Two medicines, side by side
Levorphanol vs morphine
Levorphanol and morphine are both labeled for pain. Drugs@FDA records approvals of levorphanol since 1953 and of morphine since 1984. Pharmacies paid $10.65 per levorphanol 2 mg tablet and $0.226 per morphine sulfate ir 15 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the levorphanol FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 13, 2026); the morphine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 13, 2026).
Highlights of the levorphanol record
Levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran) · label of January 13, 2026
SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF LEVORPHANOL TARTRATE TABLETS WARNING: SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF LEVORPHANOL TARTRATE TABLETS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of levorphanol tartrate tablets exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death, assess each patient’s risk prior to prescribing and reassess all patients regularly for the development of these behaviors and conditions [see WARNINGS ].
Used for
From the label: indicationsLevorphanol tartrate tablets are indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 8, 1953
- Generic labelers
- 7 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $10.65 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the morphine record
Morphine (Duramorph) · label of July 13, 2026
ADDICTION, ABUSE, AND MISUSE; RISK EVALUATION AND MITIGATION STRATEGY (REMS); LIFE-THREATENING RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION; ACCIDENTAL INGESTION; NEONATAL OPIOID WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME; and RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH BENZODIAZEPINES OR OTHER CNS DEPRESSANTS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Morphine sulfate exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death.
Used for
From the label: indicationsMorphine sulfate extended-release tablets are indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 18, 1984
- Generic labelers
- 22 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.226 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 66
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Levorphanol label of January 13, 2026, Morphine label of July 13, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do levorphanol and morphine differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class opioid agonists.
Half-life, in each label's words: Levorphanol, “Following IV administration plasma concentrations of levorphanol decline in a triexponential manner with a terminal …”; Morphine, “Excretion The elimination of morphine occurs primarily as renal excretion of M3G and its effective half-life after …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: levorphanol since 2000; morphine since 1986 (Drugs@FDA).
| Levorphanol | Morphine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Pain | Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Opioid Agonist | Opioid Agonist |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Morphine is a full opioid agonist is relatively selective for the mu-opioid receptor, although it can bind to other opioid receptors at higher doses. The principal therapeutic action of morphine is analgesia. |
| Half-life (label) | Following IV administration plasma concentrations of levorphanol decline in a triexponential manner with a terminal half-life of 11 to 16 hours and a clearance of 0.78 to 1.1 L/kg/hr. | Excretion The elimination of morphine occurs primarily as renal excretion of M3G and its effective half-life after intravenous administration is normally 2 to 4 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | January 8, 1953 | September 18, 1984 |
| First generic approved | March 31, 2000 | October 7, 1986 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 7 labelers | 22 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $10.65 per tablet (Levorphanol 2 mg tablet) | $0.226 per tablet (Morphine sulfate ir 15 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -34% | -12% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 66 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 367 | 120,591 |
| DEA schedule | CII | CII |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Levorphanol label, drug interactionsDrug Interactions Benzodiazepines and Other Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants Due to additive pharmacologic effect, the concomitant use of benzodiazepines and other CNS depressants, such as benzodiazepines, and other sedative hypnotics, anxiolytics, and tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, general anesthetics, antipsychotics, gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin), and other opioids, including alcohol, can …
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to levorphanol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions